Thrashing-machine



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

F. F. LANDIS. THRASHING MACHINE No. 544,044. Patented Aug. 6, 1895.

p a' W" R, If N\ Q 1: N W H Q I w i 2 1 V E0 3g 0 I a Z J- k 3Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

V THRASHING MACHINE.

. LANDIS.

Patented Aug. 6, 1895.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK F. LANDIS, OF WAYNESBOROUGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

.THRASHlNG-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 544,044,11ated August6, 1895.

A plication filed February 16,1895. semi No. 538.702. on model.)

- chines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear,and-exact description of the invention, such as will enable othersskilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to thrashing-machines; and it consists in thenovel construction and combination of the parts hereinafter fullydescribed and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through athrashing-machine constructed according to this invention. Fig. 2 is aside view of the machine, looking in the opposite direction from Fig. land showing the driving mechanism. Fig. 3 is a cross section taken online 0: 0c in Fig. cross-section taken on'line y 'y in Fig. 1. Fig. 5 isa cross'section taken on linezz in Fig.1.

A is the casing of the machine. This casing is provided with sides A,having their lower parts secured to two longitudinal sills a. Thesesills are supported by the bolster B, which carries the rear wheels I).

B are uprights secured to the sills a. at the rear end of the machine,and b are uprights secured to the sills a at the middle portion 'of themachine.

O are longitudinal sills secured at their rear ends to the uprights b,parallel with the sills a and a short distance above them. The frontends of the sills 0 rest upon a crosspiece 0, which is supported abovethe bolster c, (which carries the front wheels 0,) by intermediateconnections. (Not shown in the drawings.) 1

D are diagonal braces arranged between the front ends of the sills O andthe upper ends of the uprights b.

l) are diagonal braces arranged between the upper ends of the uprightsband the rear portions of the sills a.

The sills a and O, the uprights b, and the braces D and D form a trussedframework which effectively supports the machine-casing upon each sideof the machine.

E is the cylinder mounted upon the shaft e,

Fig. 4 is a l which is provided with a driving-pulley e. E is theconcave supported under the'cylinder. The thrashing-cylinder and itsconcave are provided with teeth and are of'any approved construction.

F is a grai ndefiector supported behind and below the cylinder. Thisgrain-deflector consists of two .curved side plates f, secured to thecasing eccentric of the cylinder, and a series of deflecting-bars-f,secured between the said side plates substantially horizontal andparallel with each other.

The deflecting-bars are preferably angleshaped or concavo-convex, andare arranged with their hollow sides next to the cylinder, so that thegrain is caught by them and deflected downward.

G is the grain-receiver, provided with the upwardly and rcarwardlyinclined bottom portion g and arranged below and to the rear oftheconcave and the grain-deflector.

G is a conveyerarranged in the grain-receiver.- This conveyer is of anyapproved construction, and preferably consists of driving-bands 2carrying cross-slats 3. The bands pass over carriers 4 secured uponshafts 5 and 5'; and g is a driving-wheel secured on the end of theshaft 5 outside the machine-casing.

H is a crank-shaft arranged at about the middle of the machine-casingand provided 'with a driving-pulley h outside the casing.

The bearings of the crank-shaft H are prefer ably secured torthe bracesD, and the bearings of the cylinder-shaft e are preferably secured tothe braces'D, so that the casing is relieved of strain. The crank-shaft-H is provided with cranks 6 and 7, arranged on oppobell-crank levers 11,which are pivotally supported by the machine-casing. The front part I ofthe first straw-shaker consists of two ICC side bars 1', provided withupwardly and rearwardly inclined cross-slats 10. The rear ends of thebars 1' are pivoted to the middle parts of the bars i by thepins 12. Thefront ends of the bars 1, are carried by the vertical connecting-rods13, pivoted to them and to the horizontal arms of the bell-crank levers11.

A straw-deflector 14 is provided, and consists of a curved plate securedinside the upper "part of the machine-casing, over the rear part of thegrain-deflector F, and the front part of the first straw-shaker,

.l' is the second straw-shaker, arranged to the rearof the firststraw-shaker. The second straw-shaker J consists of two upwardly andrearwardly inclined side barsj,'provided with upwardly and rearwardlyinclined slats 10, similar to the two parts of the first strawshaker.The front ends of the side barsj are operative-1y connected to thecranks 7 of the crank-shaft H, and the rear ends of the side bars j aresupported by the downwardly and rearwardly inclined links j, pivoted tothem and to the machine-casing.

An upwardly and rearwardly inclined gather-board 15 is secured in thecasing under the second shaker J. A second upwardly and rearwardlyinclined gather-board 16 is secured under the front part of thegather-board 15 and extends forward to a point under the rear end of thebottom portion 9 of the grain-receiver. A passage 17 is formed betweenthe two gather-boards, and'lS is a curved retaining-plate at the lowerend of the gather-board 16. Cross-pieces 19 and 19' are secured to thecasing and are adapted to support the curved plate18 and theblast-deflector, which will be more fully described hereinafter.

K is a conveyor of any approved construction. This conveyer ispreferably provided with driving-bands 20, carrying cross-slats 21. Thebands pass over carriers 22, secured upon shafts 23 and 23, and 7c is adrivingwheel secured on the end of the shaft 23 outside themachine-casing. A driving-wheel k is secured on the end of the shaft 23'outside the machine'casing, and K is a chain or other flexibleconnection passing around the wheel 70' and around the wheel g, whichdrives the conveyor G, as hereinbefore described. The upper part of theconveyor K passes over the upper side of the gather-board 15, and thelower part of the conveyor is arranged in close proximity to thegather-board 16 and passes through the passage 17 between thegather-boards, the lower end of the said conveyer being close behind thecurved retaining-plate 18.

L is a fan or blower of any approved constrnction, and L is adriving-pulley secured on the fan-shaft, which is journaled in bearingssecured to the sills C.

A substantially-vertical blast-board 2a is secured to the under side ofthe bottom portion g of the grainreceiver to the rear of and above thefan, and 25 is a blast-passage between the blast board 2t and the crosspiece 19.

A second blast-passage 26 is formed at the bottom of the machine-casingfor conducting a portion of the blast to the cleaning devices.

The blast-deflector 27 slides crosswise of the passage 26 and rests inan inclined position upon the said cross-piece 19 and a cross-piece 28secured to the casing. The under side of the deflector 27 has one ormore toothed racks 29 secured to it. A shaft 30 is journaled in thecasing and has one or more toothed pinions 31 secured on it and gearinginto the toothed racks 29. The pinions are arranged in the chamber 32,formed between the crosspieces 19 and, 28 and the blast-deflector, sothat the teeth of the racks and their pinions cannot be clogged by thedust and chatf of the machine. A crank 33 is secured on the end of theshaft 30 outside the casing, and 31 is a notched plate or other similarretaining device secured to the outside of the casing and operating tohold the crank and the blastdeflector in any desired position. When theblast-deflector is pushed down more of the blast is deflected upward andvery little of it passes through the passage 26 to the cleaning devices.i

A blast-regulator 35 is secured on the shaft 36 and regulates thepassage of the blast through the passage 25. This regulator consists ofa curved plate secured to the shaft 36 by arms 37, and when raised theplate is to the rear of the blast-board 24 where it does not cut 03 anyof the blast. The shaft 36 is provided with an operating crank or handleoutside the casing, and has means for securing the crank in any desiredposition similar to the retaining devices for the blastdeflector.

A guide-pulley 38, for tightening the driving-belt, is journaled on apin 39 on the outside of the casing in front of and above the fan-shaft.

M is a vibrator for constantly changing the direction of the blast withreference to the straw-shakers. This vibrator consists of a plateprovided with a curved upper edge m. This plate extends across thecasing and is supported by the arms m, whose lower ends are pivoted tothe casing below and a little in front of the crank-shaft H. M areconnecting-rods pivoted to the lower ends of the bars j of the secondstraw-shaker and to the said arms on. The vibrator is raised when thelower end of the second straw-shaker is raised, as indicated by thedotted lines in Fig. 1, and the positions of the parts of the firststrawshaker at the same time are also indicated in a similar manner.

Most of the grain is removed from the straw by the grain-deflector, andthe straw and a small quantity of grain still remaining mixed with itare thrown upon the first straw-shaker. The first straw-shaker agitatesand tosses the straw, works it to the rear, and discharges it ICC Ils

the respective conveyers.

onto the second shaker. The grain which is shaken out of the straw bythe first shaker falls upon the gather-board and the grain-receiverbeneath it, and is carried rearward by The second shaker tosses thestraw and works it to the rear end of the machine. The few remaininggrains which fall through the slats of the second shaker fall on thegather-board beneath it and are removed by the conveyer K. The strongblast which passes up the passage operates upon the grain and chaff asthey fall from the rear end of the bottom portion of the grain-receiveronto the gather-board 16, and the chaff is blown to the rear of themachine, the use of a separate chaffer being dispensed with.

The straw-shakers remove the straw very rapidly from the front to therear end of the machine, and separate the grain from it ina veryeffective manner when the straw is tough and strong and but littlebroken by the thrashingcylinder. When, however, the straw has become dryand brittle and the thrashing-cylinder knocks 0E all the chaff andblades in addition. to breaking the straw to a considerable extent, theresulting mixture of straw, chaff, and blades is apt to become mattedtogether in passing over the straw-shakers, so that the grain is not allshaken out. This is especially the case on straw-shakers which act witha rapid motion, which is desirable, as it greatly increases the capacityof the machine.

In order to prevent the matting of the material on the straw-shakers,the straw is operated on by a vibrating or pulsating blast while it isbeing tossedup and down and delivered from the. first shaker to thesecond shaker. When the second shaker is in the position shown by. thefull lines in the drawings, the blast is nearly parallel with its undersurface. The vibrator changes the direction of the blast as the lowerend of the second shaker is raised and the upper end of the first shakeris lowered until the direction of the blast becomes nearly vertical.This combined action of the vibrating or pulsating blast and the tossingmotion of the strawshakers causes the material to form into two layerson the straw-shakers, the lower layer being the heavy and coarsematerial and the upper, layer being formed of the light blades, chaff,and dust. The separation of the material into layers is very favorableto the separation of the grain and prevents the material from becomingmatted.

The blast carries off all the dust, chaff, and light material and drivesit up into and through the straw on the second shaker. The grain-headsand other heavyrubbish are carried up the gather-board 16 by theconveyer K and are delivered to the cleaning devices. An inclinedguide-board is arranged at the end of the gather-board 16 for thematerial to slide down onto the first grain-plate 51, which is supportedin the casing in a substantially horizontal position. Rocker-arms 52 arepivoted on pins 53, projecting from the sides of the casing, and 54 arelugs on the upper ends of the said arms. Eccentrics 55 are secured oneon each end of a shaft 56, outside the machine-casing, and the saidshaft is provided with a pulley 57 for revolving it. Eccentric rods 58connect the eccentrics to pins 59,projecting from the lugs 54, throughslots in the side of the casing. A push-piece 6O slides back and forthon the first grain-plate be tween it and the guide-board 50, and 61 arearms secured to the push-piece and pivoted to the upper ends of therocker-arms 52. A spiked roller 62 is journalcd in the casing above therear end of the first grain-plate 51, and is provided with adriving-wheel 63 on its end outside the casing. Adriving-wheel 64: issecured on the shaft 56, and 65 is a flexible connection, such as achain, passing around the wheel 64, over the wheel 63, and around thewheel is, so that both the spiked roller 62 and the conveyer K aredriven from the shaft 56. The second grain-plate 66 is arranged belowand to the rear of the first grain-plate, and 67 is the thirdgrain-plate arranged below and to the rear of the second grain plate.

The three grain-plates may be longitudinally adjustable in the casingand may be provided with toothed combs at their rear edges, if desired,as described in a separate application for Letters Patent, filedFebruary 4, 1895, Serial No. 537,281.

The second and third grain-plates have slots 68, or they may be formedof two parts secured together by battens 69 forming slots or openingsbetween the parts. The second grain-plate is provided with a push-piece70 and the third grain-plate is provided with a similar push piece 71.Arms 70 and '71 are pivoted to the rocker-arms 52 on opposite sides oftheir pivots, and the rear ends of these arms are curved upwardly, passthrough the slots 68 in the grain-plates, and are secured to therespective push-pieces 70 and-71. The push-pieces are supported abovetheir respective grain-plates, but as in working fine dust gets betweenthe push-pieces and the grainplates it is better to have a small openingbetween each push-piece and its grain-plate for the whole or greaterpart of its length, so that the wind from the fan may pass through thesaid opening and blow away the dust, which would otherwise wear away theadja cent surfaces.

The grain-plates 66 and 67 have similar angle-shaped guards 72 securedto their front parts and extending rearwardly over the tops of thepush-pieces.

The width of each grain-plate 66 and 67 may be varied by means ofsimilar extensionpieces 73. Each extension-piece slides horizontally onguides 74 secured to the casing,

and is provided with a thin plate 73, which rests on top of thegrain-plate. Any approved adjusting devices may be used for moving theextension-pieces back and forth. The adj usting mechanism mayconveniently consist of a ICC shaft 75, journaled in the casing andprovided with a knob or handle 76 for revolving it. Toothed piuions 77are secured on the shaft and gear into toothed racks 78, which aresecured to the extension-pieces.

N is the dividing-bar arranged below and to the rear of the thirdgrain-plate 67. This bar is angle-shaped and is provided with pivots nat its apex. The bar can be turned on its pivots and adjusted todifferent inclinations to adapt it to different kinds of material.

0 is an upwardly and rearwardly inclined gather-board for the grainsupported under the grain-plates.

P is the grain-spout at the front end of the gather-board O, and Q isthe tailingsspout at its rear end.

B. are channel-shaped side plates supported by the downward andrearwardly inclined links '1' and r, pivoted to them and to the sides ofthe casing. These side plates are arranged partly over thetailings-spout and partly extending beyond it.

The rear end of the gather-hoard O is pivoted to the lugs 0 on the lowerends of the front links r by the pins 0. The front end of thegather-board O is pivoted to the pins 12, which project from the lowerends of the rocker-arms 52.

S is a grate provided with upwardly and rearwardly inclined slats, and sis a guide board under the grate for conveying the material which fallsthrough the slats into the tailings-spout. The grate is slidable.longitudinally in the side plates and may be pushed forward to catch thematerial which slides off the rear side of the dividing-bar. A shortguide-board q is arranged under the front side of the dividing-bar andis carried by the gather-board O. This guide-board q prevents any grainfrom splashing out of the rear end of the gather-board.

T is the driving-shaft of the straw-stacker, which may be of anyapproved construction. This shaft is journaled in bearings t at the rearend of the machine and is provided with a pulley t for revolving it.

The cylinder is driven by the pulley 90, secured on one end of its shaftand indicated by the dotted circle in Fig. 2. The drivingbelt T for theseparating and cleaning mechanism passes around the pulley e on theother end of the cylinder-shaft, over the tightenerpulley 38, around thepulley Lon the faushaft. Thence making a half-turn the belt passes overthe top of the pulley h on the crankshaft, around the pulley t on thestrawstacker shaft, over the pulley 57 on the eccentric-shaft, under thesaid pulley h on the crank-shaft, and thence making another halfturn thebelt returns to the pulley e on the cylinder-shaft. The directions ofthe motions of thecvarious parts of the machine are indiand quickreciprocating motions of the pushpiece produce a quivering motion in thewhole pile of material on the first grain-plate and cause the materialto separate into layers.

The grain is worked to the bottom of the pile and the rubbish is workedto the top against the spiked roller. The spiked roller, which usuallyrevolves in the direction of the arrow, combs the coarse material fromthetop of the pile and carries it over the top of the roller. The coarsematerial is operated on by the blast and falls at the rear of themachine, partly in the tailings'spout and partly on the grate beyond it.

The grain which drops from the rear edge of the first grain-plate issubjected to the blast from the fan, which causes all the light rubbishto fall on the rear side of the pile on the second grain-plate, whilethe clean grain drops onto the front side of the pile and slides off itonto the gather-board. The pushpiece of the second grain-plate'hasshorter reciprocations than the push-piece of the first grain-plate, butits separating action on the material is similar. The material is againsubjected to the action of the blast as it drops from thesecondgrain-plate onto the third grain-plate. The separation on the thirdgrain-plate is similar to that on the second grain-plate, and isassisted by the push-piece of the third grain-plate. The thirdgrainplate delivers very little grain over itsfront edge and still lessover its rear edge, as at that point there is little left but rubbish.The blast impinges against the front side of the dividing-bar and causesall the rubbish to slide off its rear side into the tailings-spout. Whenthe grain is very full of rubbish the front side of the divider-bar isadjusted so as to be nearly vertical, thereby guiding a strong and sharpblast against the edge of the grain-plate; but if the grain is not veryfull of rubbish the front side of the dividerbar may be set at an acuteangle. Any grains which fall on the front side of the dividerbar slideoff it onto the gather-board. The tailings are returned to the cylinderto be rethrashed by an elevator of approved construction. (Not shown inthe drawings.)

When the machine has been in operation for some time, heavy rubbish,such as pieces of cornstalks, will accumulate in it, and should be gotrid of. To effect this the grate S is pushed forward over thetailings-spout. The tailings then fall through the slats of the grate,and the coarse rubbish is worked to the rear by the grate and isdischarged out of the machine.

In thrashing very light and dry oats or light grass-seed a less forciblevibrating blast is necessary, and the blast-regulator 35 is moved downto reduce the force of the blast to the required extent.

In thrashing oats which are fairly clean and in good condition, andwhile thrashing at a rapid rate, it is desirable to move the firstgrain-plate forward, nearer to the rockerarms, and to reverse thedirection of revolution of the spiked roller from that hereinbeforedescribed.

The reversal of the direction of the motion of the spiked roller isaccomplished by removing the drive-chain from engagement with the upperside of the wheel 63 and permitting it to engage with the under side ofthe said wheel.

The extension-pieces '73 are moved nearer the grain-plates when it' isdesired to shorten the bases of the piles of material which rest on thegrainplates. When the extensionpieces are pushed in and the piles havenarrower bases, the front sides of the piles are steeper, and thisallows the grain to run more freely off them, which is necessary whenthrashing ata rapid rate.

The peculiar manner in which the gatherboard and the grate S arepivotally connected and supported, as hereinbefore fully described,causes the gather-board to have a pitching motion forwardly which worksthe grain down into the grain-spout and causes the grate to have apitching motion to the rear, so as to discharge the heavy rubbish out ofthe machine.

What'I claim is 1. In a thrashing machine, the combination, with a fan,and the blast board 24 at the upper part of its casing; of the inclinedcrosspiece 19 arranged at the rear of the fan, and the blast passages 25and 26 leading to the straw-shaking and grain-cleaning devicesrespectively; the slidable blast deflector 27 resting on the crosspiece19 and controlling the area of the passage 26, and the blast deflectorconsisting of a pivoted curved plate normally supported behind the saidblast board and controlling the area of the upper passage 25,substantially as set forth.

2. In a thrashing machine, the combination, with a fan, and the casingprovided with two passages 25 and 26 leading to the straw-shaking andgrain-cleaning devices respectively; of the crosspieces arranged at therear of the fan and forming a chamber 32 between the two said passages,an inclined blast deflector 27 supported above the said chamber, andoperating mechanism for sliding the said blast deflector, arranged inthe said chamber,substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, with a revolublecran shaft provided with cranksarranged at 0pposite sides of its center; of the first shaker having itsrear end connected to the said crank shaft, said first shaker beingformed of two parts I and I each consisting of side bars and inclinedslats, the rear end of the part I being pivoted to the middle portionsof the side bars of the part I, the oscillatory bellcrank levers 11 andthe connecting rods 13.

connecting the rear ends of the said parts I and I; a second strawshaker provided with inclined slats and having its front end connectedto the said crank shaft, and means for shaker, substantially as setforth.

4. The combination, with a revoluble crank shaft; of a straw shakerformed of two parts,

I and I, each consisting of side bars and inclined slats, the rear endof the rear part, I, being operatively connected with the said crankshaft; the oscillatory bell-crank levers pivotally supporting the frontend of the part, 1; and connecting rods pivoted to the front end of thefront part, I, and to the other arms of the said bell-crank levers, therear end of the part, I, being pivoted to the middle portions of theside bars of the part, I, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination, with a fan, and a straw shaker; of a vibratorarranged intermediate of the said parts and operating to cause acontinual change in the angle at which the blast strikes the under sideof the straw shaker, substantially as set forth.

6-. The combination, with a fan, and a straw shaker; of a vibratorpivoted at its lower end, and means for oscillating thevibratorcontinuously and thereby changing the angle at which the blast strikesthe straw shaker, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination, with a fan, and a straw shaker; of a vibratorpivoted at its lower end, and driving devices operating to raiseandlower the upper part of the vibrator and the lower part of the strawshaker synchronously, substantially as set forth.

8. The combination, with a fan, a straw shaker, and means forcontinuously raising and lowering the lower end of thestraw shaker; of avibrator having its lower end pivotally supported below the strawshaker, and an arm pivotally connecting the vibrator with the lower partof the straw shaker, substantially as set forth.

9. The combination,with a fan, anda straw shaker; of a vibratorconsisting of a plate having an upwardly curved edge, and pivotedsupporting arms; and means for oscillating the vibratorcontinuously,substantially as set forth.

10. The combination, with a grain plate, a push piece above the grainplate, and reciprocatory arms passing through apertures in the grainplate and operating to reciprocate the push piece; of a guard secured tothe front part of the grain plate and extending rcarwardly over the pushpiece, substantially as set forth. 1

11. The combination, with a grain plate, of an extension piece providedwith athin plate resting on the front part of the grain plate, wherebythe effective width of the grain plate may be varied, substantially asset forth.

12. The combination,with the three grain plates, and their push piecesprovided with arms substantially as set forth; of the pivoted rockerarms and means for reciprocating them, the push piece arms of the secondand third grain plates being pivoted to the rocker arms above and belowthe rocker arm pivots, and the push piece arms of the first grain platebeing pivoted to the upper parts of the rocker arms above the aforesaidarms, substantially as set forth.

13. The combination, with a grain plate, a push piece above the grainplate, and driving mechanism operating to impart short and quickreciprocations to the push piece, whereby the material resting on thesaid plate is separated into layers and worked to the rear of the plate;of a substantially horizontal guard plate secured over the said pushpiece between it and the pile of grain, assisting to support the saidpile of grain, and permitting the grain to slide both to the front andrear, substantially as set forth.

14. The combination, with the gatherboard O, and the reciprocatoryrocker arms 52 at its lower end; of the side plates R, the downwardlyand rearwardly inclined links r a" pivotally supporting the said sideplates, the

said links 1' having lugs 0 supporting the upper end of the saidgatherboard; and the slidable grate carried by the said side plates,substantially as set forth.

15. The combination, with a grain plate, of a dividing bar having itsfrontand rear sides inclined downwardly in opposite directions andpivots at its apex, the said apex being arranged under the rear edge ofthe grain plate and remaining substantially stationary in that positionwhen the said bar is turned on its pivots to adjust the inclination ofits sides and to direct the 'blast with greater or less force againstthe edge of the said grain plate, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK F. LANDIS. Witnesses:

S. B. RINEHART, T. S. CUNNINGHAM.

